# NTSB DEN92FA016: Cessna 210M, N1231M, Albuquerque, NM, December 18, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 18, 1991, 05:42 local (12:42 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Location: 35.0845° N, 106.6511° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albuquerque, NM, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0845&lon=-106.6511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18142
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN92FA016
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18142/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92FA016

## Probable cause

INSUFFICIENT TERRAIN CLEARANCE ALTITUDE SELECTED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - high terrain
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS ON HIS 1ST FLT WITH THE ALL CARGO PART 135 OPERATOR. HE DID NOT HAVE A PART 135 IFR CHECK & WAS TO FLY VFR ON THIS FLT. HE WAS BRIEFED BY THE CHIEF PLT TO FLY RWY HDG AFTER DEPG RWY 12 AT ALBUQUERQUE INTL ARPT & TO CLIMB TO 9500 FT, WHICH WOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM TRRN CLNC WHILE FLYING THRU A PASS. THIS WOULD HAVE ALSO GIVEN A MINIMUM OF 1000 FT CLNC BELOW THE CLOUDS, WHICH WERE RPRTD AS 11,000 OVC. AFTER TAKEOFF, ACCORDING TO THE RADAR PLOT, THE PLT TURNED RGT & PROCEEDED OUT THE APRX PATH CORRESPONDING TO THE 120 DEG RADIAL OF THE ALBUQUERQUE VORTAC.  HIS ALTITUDE WAS 9500 FT, ACCORDING TO THE TRANSPONDER MODE 'C' READOUT. ACCORDING TO THE RADAR PLOT, THE ACFT MAINTAINED THIS APRX PATH & ALTITUDE UNTIL COLLISION WITH A 10,600 FT MTN, WHICH WAS LOCATED SOUTH OF THE FLT PATH THAT THE PLT WAS BRIEFED TO FLY. THE PLT HAD RCVD NO TRAINING FROM THE COMPANY, NOR WAS ANY REQD BY FAA REGULATIONS, SINCE HE CAME ABOARD WITH A CURRENT PART 135 CHECK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1231M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1231M-1992-04-21), registration cancelled 1992-04-21, S/N 21061926 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210M
- Registry model: [Cessna 210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210m) (registry code 2073450) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21062926
- Airframe hours: 6702
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-FCL 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: South Arero, Inc.
- Registered owner: South Arero, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 10, 1991, 11 hours before
- Departed: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Destination: CNM, CARLSBAD, NM
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,320 total, 51 in this make and model, 1,252 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Wind: 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19911218059069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911218059069A), Dec 18, 1991: Cessna 210M, Albuquerque, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck mountainside on first flight for air taxi company. Wreckage indicates loss of control. Dark night no lights.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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